My dissertation explores the appointment of untenured
faculty as department chairs in two- and four-year colleges in one Western
state’s (Utah) system of higher education and presents an explanatory model
that provides a framework for understanding characteristics and risk levels for
untenured department chairs. Additional
findings present the untenured chairs’ motivation for accepting the position,
the benefits and costs that they encountered as a result of that appointment,
and how being an untenured chair affected their ability to perform their
various roles as department chairs. [The
complete dissertation is available online at http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/ETD/image/etd1367.pdf]

Master of
Education, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, April 1994

UVSELF provided an
intellectually stimulating career exploration and discovery experience for
faculty and staff who had demonstrated exceptional promise in contributing to
excellence at Utah Valley University. Forum participants, or fellows, engaged in
wide-ranging discussions and learning activities related to critical issues and
opportunities that emerged in leading and managing the higher education
enterprise. The UVSELF program was 12 months in length and included a two-day
retreat and six, full day seminars, as well as other experiences to complement
the Forum. There were 12 other Fellows selected for my cohort through a competitive
application process. Participating as
mentor-administrators were the president and vice presidents of UVSC/UVU:
William Sederburg, Ph.D., President; Elizabeth Hitch, Ph.D. Vice President of
Academic Affairs; Cory Duckworth, J.D., Vice President of Student Affairs; Val
Hale, M.A., Vice President of University Relations; Linda Makin, M.P.A., Chief
Officer, Planning/Budget/Policy, and Val Peterson, Ph.D., Vice President for
Finance and Administration.

The Chair Academy Conference,
2009 International Conference for Post-Secondary Leaders: Playing to your
Strengths. Nashville, TN. March 2-5. Co-presented with Denise Richards, Faculty,
Department of College Success Studies.

Professional and Organizational
Development Network in Higher Education. Snowbird Resort, Snowbird, UT.

October 17-20.

PUBLICATIONS

Dissertation

2006 Forrest Williams. “The Appointment of
Untenured Department Chairs in Two- and Four-Year Colleges in a Western State:
Problems and Potentials.” Brigham
Young University Press, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT.

EDLF[1]
668 Philosophy Foundations in Education. Brigham Young University (BYU)
(Grade: A) Summer 1997. Major philosophies of education from idealism to
postmodernism and their influence on educational theory and practice.

EDLF 782
Constitutional Law and Education. BYU (Grade: A) Summer 1998. Impact of
Constitution on education in America. cases under constitutional law that have
influenced policy and practice in the educational system.

EDLF 622 The Law and Education. BYU (Grade: A)
Winter 2000. Evolution of American law and its application to American
educational systems. Fundamental sources and principles of the law, the
judicial structure, and key court cases affecting education in state and federal
questions.

EDLF 795 Research
Reporting Techniques. BYU (Grade: A) Summer 2000. Research designs for
planning and conducting research for doctoral dissertation using survey,
inferential, and experimental methods.

Fluent Italian speaker for 28 years with daily
conversation in Italian.

Minor Degree, Italian, Department
of French and Italian at Brigham Young University (1989)

Coursework
completed:

ITAL 101, 102,
201, 211, 311 (Conversation, Grammar)

ITAL 301
Literature

ITAL 446 Civilization,
1600-Present (Era)

ITAL
321 3rd Year Grammar

ITAL 326 Phonetics & Pronunciation

ITAL 322 Composition

ITAL 443 Romantic Period
Literature.

Some Spanish comprehension

PERSONAL

The following sketch is included in the introductory
materials for my online students:

“I am an associate professor in the Basic
Composition Department in University College here at Utah Valley University in
Orem, UT. Growing up in Wyoming as the second of eleven children, I spent time
training horses and guiding fisherman in the beautiful Wind River Mountains
before I discovered my appreciation of good writing. I received my B.A. Degree
in English and Masters of Education Degree from Brigham Young University. I
also fairly recently finished my doctorate degree, so I haven't forgotten what
it is like to be a student. I have a minor in Italian and know the difficulties
of learning another language as an adult. If you walk into my office, you may
hear me speaking Italian to my wife or to one of my two children, Alex and
Ashley. We make our home in Cedar Hill, Utah. I have been a pioneer in the development and
design of basic writing courses that are enhanced through the thoughtful use of
technology. I have years of practical experience gained from using various
forms of technology to improve the students' opportunity for learning. Please
let me know if you have any problems while you take this course. I am just an
email or phone call away.”

Note: Dean
Taylor is a colleague of mine and was a fellow teacher when I began my teaching
career in Provo School District in 1989.
She is now Dean of University College and as such is the line supervisor
for my academic unit.

Scott Ellis
Ferrin, J.D., Ed.D

Professor,
Educational Leadership and Foundations, Adjunct Professor of Law

Note: Commissioner
Martin and I were in the same BYU graduate program from which we earned our
doctorate degrees in Educational Leadership. We also worked together on
committees and task forces at Utah Valley University.

Note: Superintendent
Merrill, then Principal of Timpview High School, Provo, Utah, hired me as an
English teacher where I started a program for At-Risk Students. I also
completed an administrative internship at Timpview High School when Dr. Merrill
was principal.